Five Autumn Superfoods

Autumn is a time when you might think, ‘yeah I’m not going on a beach anytime soon so what’s the point in being healthy?’ Perhaps you’d rather tuck into another pumpkin spiced latte and help yourself to a second helping of that Sunday roast. With the milder climate comes a whole host of possibilities to aid a health kick and this time of year delivers extremely well with regards to the superfoods on offer. Here are our top 5 picks for the next few months, which you can easily slip into your diet.

Pumpkin

Everyone knows that autumn is the time for pumpkins - but they’re not just for carving out and making faces in for Halloween. Instead, make pumpkin an essential part of your diet this autumn, adding it to smoothies or salads. Pumpkin is extremely high in fiber, potassium and vitamin C content, so you know what you’re putting is good. Potassium in particular will help reduce your stress levels and is very beneficial in diminishing high blood pressure.

Cranberries

Cranberries are one of the best superfoods out there and luckily for us they grow in abundance during the autumn months. Not only does half a cup of cranberries only contain around 25 calories, but they are also excellent for keeping you healthy. The possible health benefits of consuming cranberries can include lowering your risk of certain types of cancer. Add to this that cranberries can aid your immune system’s functionality decrease your blood pressure. Besides all the health benefits, they’re actually a really great food for your health!

Carrots

While carrots are available all year round, autumn and winter is when they really are at their best. They’re one of the easiest vegetables to eat, whether you mash them, puree them, roast them or just eat them raw and their health benefits are endless. They’re full of beta-carotene and fiber, as well as being an excellent source of antioxidants. Furthermore, they are heavily rich in vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, vitamin B8, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese - so as one of the cheapest vegetables you can get your hands on, they really are coming up trumps.

Parsnips

Not just to be eaten with your Sunday roast, parsnips offer a whole range of benefits and you should try and get them into your diet around three times a week. Along with most root vegetables, now is when they are at their best. Parsnips contain high levels of potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, and iron. They also contain an high level of vitamins, including vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K, as well as plenty of fiber, and even some protein. Parsnips should definitely be on your plate and in your smoothies this autumn.

Fennel

While fennell might not immediately come to mind when in the supermarket, you should definitely make it a cupboard essential. Why? Fennel is extremely beneficial to heart health. Fennell is high in fiber (significantly), potassium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and phytonutrient content. These nutrients when combined with fennell's lack of cholesterol all support heart health.

So this autumn, makes sure you’re packing plenty of these vegetables into your diet. If you’re looking for a health kick, a new way to spice up a salad or just a different vegetable to eat, then the list above is sure to get you started.

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